After round 17 of the Eredivisie season we are now at the half way stage with one final round before the winter break.
- By Leo Walker
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The top 4 remain as they were heading into the round with the four teams all recording victories at the weekend. FC Twente were the first out of the four to win and put pressure on the title challengers following their comfortable 3-1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday evening. The result was never in doubt for FC Twente following the opening goal on 21 minutes by Felipe Gutierrez. A second was added by Luc Castaignos before Go Ahead Eagles on the hour mark reduced the deficit to one goal following Jop van der Linden’s effort. Though the one goal deficit lasted only four minutes as Dusan Tadic scored the third for the hosts to seal the three points.
It was then over to Ajax on Sunday morning, who were very fortunate to leave the home of SC Cambuur with the three points. The Champions were certainly off the pace as the hosts dominated the first 40 minutes but without any real chance on goal. It was a touch of class by Ajax that would see them take an undeserved lead at the break following a well worked team goal with Lasse Schone scoring for the Champions. Last years Eerste Divisie Champions derservedly equalised through Michiel Hemmens 6 yard box effort when the offside flag stayed down and SC Cambuur looked to have sealed a point. However there hearts were broken when Dutch wonderkid, Davy Klaassen scored two minutes into injury time to gain the full three points for Ajax. The victory saw them briefly return to the top, whilst SC Cambuur are now in 17th, just one place above NEC Nijmegen.
Vitesse however returned to the top of the table just two hours later, following their 3-2 victory at home to NAC Breda at the Gelredome in Arnhem. It was the visitors who would take a shock lead after Jordy Buijs penalty strike on 24 minutes. Though just ten minutes later Lucas Piazon scored his ninth goal of the season, also from the spot, to equalise. The young Brazilian scored his second of the game and his tenth of the season just 5 minutes after the restart before Kelvin Leerdam put the game to bed 5 minutes from time. Veteran NAC Breda striker, Anthony Lurling scored a second for the visitors with seconds remaining as it finished 3-2.
Graziano Pelle’s goal was enough for Feyenoord to record a victory over FC Groningen on Sunday at the De Kuip to ensure they stay in contention for their first title since the 1998/99 season. The Rotterdam club are 6 points off the top following the Italian strikers headed effort after just 9 minutes. Ronald Koeman’s side were unable to grab the all important second goal, though they did hang on for all three points.
The round initially got underway on Friday evening with sc Heerenveen recording a narrow 2-1 victory away at PEC Zwolle. The win for Marco van Basten’s side has seen them rise up to 5th on 26 points following Alfred Finnbogason’s winning goal.
Saturdays action saw a thrilling opener when NEC Nijmegen recorded an emphatic 4-3 victory over Roda JC, though they remain at the bottom of the table, albeit just one point off from 17th. NEC Nijmegen found themselves 2-0 down after just 12 minutes, before a stirling 2nd half performance saw them score 4 goals in 35 minutes. The despondent visitors did score a third goal via Frank Demouge but the hosts held on for a vital win. The third straight loss for Roda JC, and without a win in 6 games was enough for the board to sack manager Ruud Brood on Sunday morning. Heading into round 17, RKC Waalwijk found themselves in the bottom three, however they recorded a crucial 2-1 victory over table rivals, ADO Den Haag at the Kyocera Stadion. The win for Erwin Koeman’s side saw them leapfrog ADO Den Haag and lift out of the bottom three into 15th whilst the side from The Hague fall into 16th.
AZ Alkmaar, who advanced to the next stage of the Europa League on Thursday, were dealt their third successive Eredivisie defeat on Sunday when travelling to Almelo to take on Heracles at the Polman Stadion. The 2-0 loss has seen Dick Advocaat’s side fall down to 7th in the league. The closing game of the weekend saw PSV return to winning ways for the first time since October 6th and they did it in emphatic style away at FC Utrecht. Philip Cocu’s side were one nil up after just three minutes before Memphis Depay made it 2-0 after 13 minutes. FC Utrecht’s Steve de Ridder, who would later be sent off for the hosts, missed a penalty before PSV scored two further goals to lead 4-0 at the break. The ten men of FC Utrecht scored a mere consolation goal through Davy Bulthuis before he himself was dismissed before the full time whistle. The resulting penalty, the third of the match, was saved though PSV made it five with seconds remaining to record an emphatic 5-1 victory.
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